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18 Feb 2022 National Legal Services Day (NLSD)

Posted at 12:24h in Daily current-affairs by khyati khare 0 Comments

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Recently the Ministry of Law and Justice informed the Lok Sabha about the All India Legal Awareness and Outreach Campaign, which was launched in October 2021 on the occasion of National Legal Services Day (NLSD).
National Legal Services Day (NLSD) is celebrated every year on 9th November with the objective of spreading awareness to ensure fair, fair justice process for all citizens.

NLSD was started for the first time in the year 1995 by the Supreme Court of India to provide assistance to the poor and weaker sections of the society.
Under this, free legal services are provided in cases before civil, criminal and revenue courts, tribunals or any other authority performing quasi-judicial functions.
This day is celebrated to make the citizens of the country aware of the various provisions and rights of litigants under the Legal Services Authority Act. Help camps, Lok Adalat and legal aid programs are organized in every legal jurisdiction on this day.

Article 39A states that the State shall ensure that the legal system works in such a way as to ensure that justice is accessible on a basis of equal opportunity and in particular to ensure that the opportunity of securing justice is denied to any citizen by reason of economic or any other disability. If not left, will arrange free legal aid.
Articles 14 and 22(1) also make it mandatory for the state to ensure a legal system promoting justice on the basis of equality before the law and equal opportunity for all.

Providing free legal aid and advice.
Spreading legal awareness.
To organize Lok Adalats.
To promote settlement of disputes through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism. There are different types of ADR mechanisms- arbitration, conciliation and judicial settlement including settlement or arbitration through Lok Adalat.
Providing compensation to crime victims.

National level:

National Legal Services Authority (NALSA): It was constituted under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. The Chief Justice of India is its chief patron.

State level:

State Legal Services Authority: It is headed by the Chief Justice of the State High Court, who is its chief patron.

District Level:

District Legal Services Authority: The District Judge of the district is its ex-officio chairman.

Taluka/Sub-Division Level:

Taluka/Sub-Divisional Legal Services Committee: It is headed by a senior civil judge.
High Court: High Court Legal Services Committee
Supreme Court: Supreme Court Legal Services Committee.

Women and Children
Members of Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes
Industrial workers
Victims of mass disaster, violence, flood, drought, earthquake, industrial disaster.
Person with Disabilities
Persons present in custody those persons whose annual income is less than the amount prescribed by the concerned State Government, if the matter is before any other court before the Supreme Court and if the case is less than Rs.5lac.
Victims of human trafficking or those engaged in forced labor.